By THEA RUTHERFORD
FN Features Editor
thea@nasguard.com
Pastor Ernie Deloach hadn't believed that they could really pull it off. Although he had anounced to the Key West community on his radio programme weeks in advance that the Calvary Temple Reunion Choir would be performing at his church, no one was more surprised than the pastor when the choir turned up on Thursday, June 1, 35 members strong, some of them with their families, in a nine vehicle caravan.
Members of the group streamed into Ft. Lauderdale from Grand Bahama, Mayaguana, North Carolina and the Cayman Islands, packed into vans and set out for Key West. They arrived there half-a-day later, ready to perform for Deloach and his congregation at Glad Tidings Community Church during the holiday weekend.
The reunion choir lit up the stage with a full concert, singing nostalgia-ridden gospel favourites, performing liturgical dance and even choral speaking. They were engulfed by a thrilled congregation, among whom were members of Key West's Bahamian community.
City Commissioner Clayton Lopez, who told the group that he has ties to The Bahamas, extended an open invitation to the choir, asking them to return for a longer time on their next visit. Lopez also presented the group with the city's flag.
Before leaving for home, the group raised their voices to the heavens once again with an impromptu performance at Evangel International Church in Miami on the invitation of Gilbert Harris, a former music minister at Calvary Temple. Harris had insisted that the reunion choir, in Florida for their performance in Key West, zip over to sing at his church in Miami before returning to The Bahamas.
"We had fun," smiled choir member, Nerissa Palmer.
Choir Director Carol Bennett joined Palmer in her assessment of the giggle-fest of a trip.
"We behaved like little children on a picnic," she said.
Rallied together once again after a tribute concert for Deloach in March of this year, the members, whose paths had emptied them at the doorsteps of different churches, islands and countries, were intoxicated with the spirit of the good old days.
Remiscing yet another time invoked a desire to remain together as a reunion choir among the members.
"It made us want to stay together," said choir member, Eula Nixon.
The reunion choir is willing to perform on invitation, but its main thrust, now that it has committed to practicing monthly, is towards Family Island ministry. All proceeds that the group receives go directly back into the community through charitable donations.
"You find that choirs don't usually visit these islands, so we want to minister in the islands, and it doesn't even necessarily have to be a concert, just for ministry," said Bennett.
The choir's Family Island ministry will begin in Treasure Cay later in the year where they will perform at the Full Gospel Assembly church.
Next year, the choir plans to accept the invitation of its member from The Cayman Islands to perform there some time in June.
CITY FLAG — Members of the Calvary Temple Reunion choir performed concerts in Key West and Miami over the Labour Day holiday weekend to the delight of the congregations that heard them. In Key West, City Commissioner Clayton Lopez presented them with the city's flag. Holding the flag are (from left to right) Carol Bennett, Nerissa Palmer and Eula Nixon.(Photo by BRADLEY RUTHERFORD)
